Executive-type folding table



Iris-:11

June 11, 1963 H. HowE ETAL 3,093,095

EXECUTIVE-TYPE FOLDING TABLE:

Fued sept. 21, 1961 4 sheets-sheet 1 June 11, 1963 H. HowE ETAL EXECUTIVE-TYPE FOLDING TABLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 21, -1961 June ll, 1963 H. HowE ETAL EXECUTIVE-TYPE FOLDING TABLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 21, 1961 M m@ w@ Wp June 11, 1963 H. HOWE ETAL EXECUTIVE-TYPE FOLDING TABLE Filed Sept. 2l, 1961 'l Mb 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 z 'hh WI, zu

United States Patent Office 3,093,095 Patented `lume 11, rlt-'63 3,093,095 EXECUTlVE-TYPE FOLDING TABLE Harold Howe, Rowayton, and Sher-rick Lee Bauer, Whisconier Hill, Brookfield Center, Conn., assignors to Howe Folding Furniture, Inc., South Norwalk, Conn.,

a corporation of Connecticut Filed Sept. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 139,744 12 Claims. (Cl. 10S- 131) This invention relates to an executive-type folding table.

.An object of this invention is to provide a folding table having the structural beauty of the finest fixed-type tables.

Another object of this invention is to provide a folding table that combines contemporary slim leg styling with the rigidity of a non-folding table.

-A efurther object of this invention is to provide a table for use in executive offices, which although having no leg brace visible, and having the appearance of a fixedtype table, may be readily folded and unfolded, and stored in a folded position.

The invention will be best understood if the following description is read in connection with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a table embodying this invention,

FIG. 2 is a detail View looking down on the `table turned upside down and showing a leg in fully unfolded position.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. 1, partly in cross section and partly broke-n away.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1, partly in cross section and partly broken away, and showing particularly how the eccentric `cams engage and control the reciprocal bars by which the upper portion of the table legs may be tightly drawn against the ends of the skirt along the sides of the table,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the table similar to FIG. 1 but showing the table in upside `down position with one pair of legs completely folded and the other pair of legs completely unfolded illustrating particularly, together with FIG. 4, the control rod means by which the lock bars may be moved between locking and unlocking position.

FIG. 6 -is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a leg in fully unfolded position.

FIG. 7 is a detail view showing a locking bar, and its position including the relation of its inclined cam surface to the keyhole slot for a leg which is in folded position.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 modified to show the relation of the parts when the leg is partly unfolded and the curved lower edge of the head of the lock bar is in contact with, and is being lifted by, the lower edge of the slot in the leg, and with the inclined camming edge portion of the lock bar part way through the related keyhole slot, and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIIGS. 7 and 8 modified to show the relation of the parts after a leg has been fully unfolded, with the head of the lock bar pressing on the inner surface of the inner wall of the leg and thus holding it tightly against an end of the table top side skirt.

In the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, a top 1t) has depending from its undersurface along each side of the channel members 12 and 14 which do not extend fully to the respective ends of the top but terminate a distance from the ends of the top which is `equal to the width of the legs. Channel members 12 and 14 are preferably of stainless steel enameled as desired on the outer surface of their riser portions, and they are disposed so that they open inwardly toward one another. 'Ihe S plates 16 and 1S extend transversely of the top adjacent its ends respectively, but they are spaced from the ends of the table so that their intermediate or riser portions 1Gb and 18b are spaced inwardly from the ends of the channel members 12 and 14. Members 16 and 18 extend into the channels 12 and 14 and their horizontal portions 16a, 18a and 16C, 18e are respectively attached, as by Welding, to the upper and lower iianges of channel members 12 and 14. The horizontally extending end portions 16s` and 18e of the S plates project outwardly flush with the ends of the side channels 12 and 14.

Two pair of legs Ztl, 22 and 26, 28 are provided, the legs of each pair being connected by the stretchers 24 and 3l) respectively which, as shown, are inwardly opening channel members, the riser or intermediate portions of which are equal in height to the height of the side channels 12 and 14. When the legs are in unfolded position the riser portions of the members 24 and 30 provide the skirt for the ends of the table.

The pairs of legs 20, 22 and 26, 28 are hinged to the lower flanges 16e and 18C of the S plates by the butt hinges h, one leaf of whioh is connected to the flanges 16C and 18e respectively and the other leaf of which is connected to the lower flanges 24C and 30C of the stretchers 24 and 30 respectively. By reference to FIGS. 2 and 6 it will be seen that this arrangement causes lthe tops of the pairs of legs 2i), 22 and 26, 28 and theirrespective cross members or stretcher means 24 and 30 to be disposed under and flush with the ends of the table top 10 when in unfolded position with the inner surfaces of the legs in contact with the ends of the side channels 12 and 14 respectively, and that in this position the channels 12 and 14- together with the stretchers 24 and 30 form a continuous skirt depending from the table top 1t) around its perimeter.

The legs are preferably tubular fin construction and each has a slot s in its inner wall adjacent its upper end and -between the upper and lower flanges of the side channels 12 and 14 respectively. Each of the S plates 16 and 18 is provided in its vertically extending portions 16b and 18b with the keyhole slots k which are in alignment longitudinally of the table with the slots s in the legs respectively.

Extending transversely across the under surface of the top is a control rod 32 which as illustrated comprises two parts 32a and 32h, extending in alignment from the respective side channels 12 and 14 inwardly, with their inner ends bent at right angles and disposed in side-by-side position and encased by a tu-bular member to form a handle 34. As shown the rod portions 32a and 32h are supported in bearings provided by brackets L1, L2, L3 and L4 depending from the under surface of the top. Latch 33 is provided to engage the handle 34 after it has been rotated through from the position shown i-n FIG. 5.

Double cam members are fixed on they control rod members 32a and B2b at their outer ends. These include cam hubs 36 and 38 which are concentric with, and fixed on, the control rod members respectively, and the cams 40, 42 and 44, 46 which are eccentrically mounted on the control rods and attached to the said cam hubs respeotively. Spacer members such as washer w may be placed on the hubs 36 and 38 to hold the hub assemblies on the control rod members and fill the space between the ends of the control rods and the riser portions of channels 12 and 14. The eccentrically mounted cams 40, 42 and 44, 46 are received in apertures a provided in the lock bars 48, 50 and 52, 54 adjacent their inner ends respectively. The cam members 40, 42 and 44, 46 are disposed and related in such a way that when the table is in unlock-ed position they project in opposite directions longitudinally of the top 10, and as the control rod members 32a and 32b are rotated, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5 the projecting portions of the cams 40, 42 and 44, 46 move toward a common plane until after a 90 rotation of the control rod means the said cams are dis- 3 posed in the same vertical plane and have drawn the pairs of lock bars 48, 50 and 52, S4 inwardly. By further rotation of the control rod means 32a and 32b, the projecting portions of the cams 40, 42 and 44, 46 are moved from the common vertical plane and, after 180 rotation they extend in directions opposite to their initial positions.

As the legs are unfolded the rounded head of the lock bars contact and ride over the lower edge of the slots s in the legs respectively, thus tilting the lock bars until the heads are entirely within the legs when the action of spring arms t tilt the lock bars in the opposite direction bringing the lower ends of the heads below the lower ends of the slots s. This is important because it simplies unfolding the table. With the table upside down the operator will usually raise the legs one pair at a time. The interrelation described above will cause a pair of legs so raised to remain substantially upright while the other pair of legs is raised, when it will also remain substantially upright. The rotation of the control lever may then be completed without anyone having to hold the legs, thus swinging the upper portions of the legs into tight abutting relation to the ends of the channels 12 and 14, in which position the stretchers 24 and 30 coact with the channels 12 and 14 to `forni a continuous skirt depending from the top and iiush with the outer walls of the legs, and no braces or locking means are visible to anyone looking at the table in its upright position.

The spring arms t are secured at one end to the under surface of the top and have their free ends extending over the lock bars respectively.

Each of the lock bars has a reduced end portion marked by an inclined cam surface C at its inner end, and a downwardly extending head portion j at its outer end. It will be noted from FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 that when a leg is fully folded its lock bar will be at the outer end of its reciprocal stroke and its inclined cam surface C will be on the outer side of its keyhole slot k.

It will also be noted that when the control rod is rotated from locking to unlocking position, the cam surface C of each locking rod coacts with its related keyhole slot k to cause the lock bar to swing in a direction opposed to the force exerted on it by its related spring arm t and thus to elevate the head portion of the locking rod from alignment with the inner wall of the leg into alignment with its slot s, thus freeing the leg from the head and allowing the leg to be moved into folded position.

It will be noted that the point of contact between the inner surface of the heads j and the inner surface of the inner walls of the legs respectively below the slots s is approximately at the middle point vertically of the interface between the legs and the ends of the side channel members-ie., approximately midway between the upper ends of the legs and the hinges h-thus insuring that an even pressure is exerted to press the legs against the ends of the side channels and provide a support which is completely rigid and gives the effect of a well-built table having xed legs, and relieves the hinges h of strain when the legs are in unfolded and locked position.

If it is desired to have the top extend outwardly beyond its skirt the side channel members 12 and 14 are spaced the desired distance inwardly from the side edges of the top, and are terminated from the ends of the top a distance equal to the width of the legs plus the said desired distance, and the S plates .16 and 18 are set further in from the end edges of the top by said desired distance.

In the embodiment of the invention as shown, the limit of inward motion of the lock bars 48, 50 and 52, 54 is such that after 135 of rotation of the control arm the contact members of the heads of the lock bars are pressing against the inside surface of the inner walls of the legs respectively and holding the legs against the ends of the side channels as tightly as they can, and any further rotation of the control arm results in the twisting of the control arm members themselves, thereby setting up in them a torsional strain which serves the purpose of automatically compensating for any wear which may occur between the contact members of the lock bars and the interior surface portions of the legs which they contact, and also for any wear at the outer surface of the inner wall of the legs and the ends of the side channel members.

There has thus been provided a structure in which the above mentioned objects are obtained in a thoroughly practical manner.

What is claimed is:

l. A folding table comprising a top having depending skirt members along its sides cut away at the corners to receive folding legs in their unfolded position, two pair of rigid hollow frame legs, and stretchers interconnecting the legs of each pair adjacent the top, and forming end skirts for the top when the legs are unfolded, cross members depending from the top and spaced inwardly from the ends of the top, hinge means for attaching the stretchers of each pair of legs to the cross members respectively for movement of the pairs of legs and stretchers between folded position, in which the legs and stretchers lie in a plane substantially parallel with the top, and an unfolded position, in which the legs and stretchers are substantially normal to the plane of the top and disposed under the top with the legs respectively in abutting relation to the ends of the skirt side members, and filling the space between the side and end skirt members, a slot in the wall portion of each leg which has an interface with the ends of the side skirt members, and slots in the said cross members disposed in alignment with the respective slots in the legs, locking rods, cam means engaging the locking rods adjacent their inner ends, the outer ends of the locking rods extending through the slots in the cross members respectively and substantially aligned with the slots in the legs for entry into the legs through the slots in the legs when the legs are unfolded, the outer ends of the locking rods comprising heads extending downwardly and having contact surface portions adapted to respectively engage and press against the inner surface of the portions of the legs having an interface with the ends of the side skirt members when the locking rods are moved into locking position, and means for controlling the cam means to move the locking rods inwardly and outwardly for locking and unlocking the legs respectively.

2. The structure claimed in claim l in which the locking rods have a cam surface coactive with an edge of the slots in the said cross members respectively, acting, when the locking bars are moved from locking to unlocking position, to swing the locking rods in a direction such that the heads of the locking rods are raised within the legs respectively to alignment with the slots in the legs thus conditioning the parts to permit movement of the legs from unfolded to folded position.

3. The structure claimed in claim 1 in which the lower edge of the heads of the locking rods are rounded and adapted to ride over the lower edge of the slots in the legs respectively as the legs are unfolded, thus tilting the locking rods until the heads thereof are entirely within the legs respectively, and means acting on the locking rods to swing them in la direction to bring the head portions of the locking rods below the lower ends of the slots in the legs respectively, thus conditioning the locking rods to contact the inner surface of the legs below the said slots when the locking rods are moved into locking position.

4. The `structure claimed in claim 1 in Which when the locking rods are unlocked the heads of the locking rods are positioned to enter the slots in the legs respectively as a pair of legs is -moved from folded toward unfolded position, and means causing the heads to drop below the slots respectively after they have entered entirely into the legs, in position to contact the inner surface of the legs below the slots therein when the locking bars for the pair of legs are moved to pull the heads against the inner surfaces of the legs respectively and thus lock the legs firmly in unfolded position.

5. A folding table comprising, `a top, two pairs of legs, channel members depending from the top along its side edges and disposed so that they open inwardly 'and their intermediate portions Iare normal to the top and ush with the side edges of the top, the channel members depending from the top along its side edges being of less length than the top and terminating from the respective ends of the top a distance sufficient to permit the table legsl when unfolded to Ibe disposed under the respective corners of the table with their outer faces ush with the side and end edges of the top respectively dening the corners, stretcher means interconnecting the legs of each pair of legs, and means including S plates extending transversely of the top adjacent its ends respectively, between the opposed channel members which depend from the top `along its side edges, each S plate being disposed so that its intermediate portion is normal to the top and extends between the upper and lower flanges of the channel members, and its lateral portions are substantially normal to its intermediate portion and lthe lower of said lateral portions has its outer edge in alignment transversely of the top with the adjacent ends of the said channel members, and hinge means interconnected between the said stretchers Iand the said lower of said lateral portions of the S plates respectively,

6. A folding table comprising, a top, two pairs of legs, channel members depending from the to-p along its side edges and disposed so that they open inwardly and their intermediate portions are normal to lthe top and Hush with the side `edges of the top, the channel members depending from the top along its side edges being of less length than the top and terminating from the respective ends of the top a distance suicient to permit the table legs when unfolded to be ldisposed under the respective corners of the table with their outer faces flush with the side and end edges of the top respectively defining the corners, stretcher means interconnecting the legs of each pair of legs, and S plates extending transversely lof the top adjacent its ends respectively between the opposed channel members which depend from the top along its side edges, each S plate being disposed so that its intermediate portion is normal to the top and extends between the upper and lower flanges of the channel members, and its lateral portions are substantially normal to its intermediate portion and the lower of said lateral portions has its outer edge in alignment transversely `of the top with the adjacent ends of the said channel members, the said stretcher means comprising inwardly opening channel members each `disposed with its intermediate portion normal to the top and ilush with an outer surface of the pair of legs interconnected by it, and with its lower lateral portion aligned with, and in edge to edge relation to, the lower lateral portion 'of the adjacent S plate, said hinge means being interconnected between the lower lateral portions of the stretchers Iand the lower lateral portion of the adjacent S plates respectively.

7. The structure claimed in claim 6 in which the legs are tubular and each has -a slot in its inner wall adjacent its upper end and between the upper and lower flanges of the side channel members, and each of the S plates is provided in its intermediate vertically extending portion with keyhole slots which are in alignment longitudinally `of the top with lthe slots in the legs respectively, Iand means is provided for locking the legs in unfolded position including control rod means extending transversely yof the top and mounted for rotation between said side channel members, pairs of cams eccentrically mounted on the control rod means at each end of said control nod means the cams comprising each pair being disposed and related so that they project in opposite directions longitudinally of the top when the legs are unlocked, and move through a common pl-ane until they project from one another in directions opposite t-o their initial positions as the control nod means is rotated, and a pair of lock bars disposed along a-t least one side of the top and apertured adjacent f5 their inner ends respectively to receive the cams comprising lone of said pairs of cams, said lock bars having at their outer ends heads with rounded contact edges adapted x to ride over the lower edges of the slots in the legs respectively while tilting the lock bars in one direction, and spring means operative when the heads are entirely within the legs to tilt the lock bars in the opposite direction and bring the lower ends of the heads below the lower ends of the slots respectively, each of the lock bars having 1a cam surface disposed to move through one of the keyhole slots defined by said S plates and to overcome the force of said spring means and to elevate the head of the lock bar into unlocking position when the control rod is rotated from locking to unlocking positions.

8. A folding table comprising a top, two pair of legs, means for interconnecting each pair of legs to the top so that each pair is movable from a folded position, in which the legs are parallel to the top, to an unfolded position in which the legs are substantially at right angles to the top, flange members, extending downwardly from the top along its side edges 'and means supported by said flange members for locking the legs in unfolded position, said means comprising, a cross rod rotatably supported at its ends in the side members respectively, a pair of cams mounted on said rod adjacent one of its ends, each of said cams serving to support, and being mounted in `a recess provided in, one of said lock bars, said cams being eccentrically mounted and disposed so that, 'as the cross rod is rotated, they move from a position of maximum eccentricity with respect to o-ne another through a position in which they are concentric, to another position of maximum eccentricity in a ydifferent -direction and removed from the first position of maximum eccentricity, thus ,drawing the lock bars toward and away from the ends of the table, the legs of said table being tubular and each having a slot in its inner Wall ladjacent its upper end, and means positioning the `outer ends of said lock bars so that they are aligned with, and movable through, the slots in said legs respectively and so that the outer ends of said lock bars are respectively raised and lowered to lock or unlock the legs in unfolded position.

9. A folding table comprising, a top, legs, each having at least a portion which is hollow, means for interconnecting the legs to the top for movement between an unfolded position in which the legs are substantially normal to the top to a folded position in which the legs lie in a plane substantially parallel to the top and somewhat spaced yfrom the top, means for locking the legs respectively in unfolded position including lock rods, and means supporting the lock rods for movement toward fand away from the legs respectively, each of the lock rods having a downwardly projecting portion at its `outer end, and each of the legs having a slot disposed so that as a leg is unfolded the slot therein will substantially register with the head of one of the lock bars and guide the head into the hollow interior of the leg, and means for actuating each lock rod to move its downwardly extending portion into, `or out of, contact with the inner surface of the leg below the slot.

10. The structure claimed in claim 9 including means for raising the outer end of a lock bar as its downwardly extending portion is moved out `of contact with the inner surface of a leg to bring said portion into register with the slot in the leg preparatory to moving the leg from unfolded to folded position.

11. A folding table comprising, a top, la pair of legs disposed under each end of the top and stretchers interconnecting the upper ends of the legs of each pair of legs, cross members depending from the top a ldistance equal to the height of the stretchers and spaced inwardly from the said stretchers respectively, hinge means interconnecting the stretchers adjacent their lower edge to the cross members respectively adjacent 4their lower edge, means depending from the top against which the inner faces of the legs respectively abut when in unfolded position, and means disposed between the tops of the legs and the ends of the stretchers respectively for locking the legs in unfolded position by causing the portions of the legs between their tops and their hinge means to press against their abutment means respectively.

l2. A folding table comprising `a top, legs disposed under the top, means depending from the -top against which the legs abut respectively when in unfolded position, other means depending from the top, `and hinges interconnecting the legs respectively to said means -at a distance below the top of the legs, for movement between an unfolded position and a folded position, and means for locking the legs in unfolded position by exerting force References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,627,454 Phalon May 3, 1927 2,533,173 Mitchell Dec. 5, 1950 2,546,816 Benvissuto Mar. 27, 1951 2,618,523 Boyce Nov. 18, 1952 2,684,883 Wigell July 27, 1954 

1. A FOLDING TABLE COMPRISING A TOP HAVING DEPENDING SKIRT MEMBERS ALONG ITS SIDES CUT AWAY AT THE CORNERS TO RECEIVE FOLDING LEGS IN THEIR UNFOLDED POSITION, TOW PAIR OF RIGID HOLLOW FRAME LEGS, AND STRETCHERS INTERCONNECTING THE LEGS OF EACH PAIR ADJACENT THE TOP, AND FORMING END SKIRTS FOR THE TOP WHEN THE LEGS ARE UNFOLDED, CROSS MEMBERS DEPENDING FROM THE TOP AND SPACED INWARDLY FROM THE ENDS OF THE TOP, HINGE MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE STRETCHERS OF EACH PAIR OF LEGS TO THE CROSS MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY FOR MOVEMENT OF THE PAIRS OF LEGS AND STRETCHERS BETWEEN FOLDED POSITION, IN WHICH THE LEGS AND STRETCHERS LIE IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH THE TOP, AND AN UNFOLDED POSITION, IN WHICH THE LEGS AND STRETCHERS ARE STBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE PLANE OF THE TOP AND DISPOSED UNDER THE TOP WITH THE LEGS RESPECTIVELY IN ABUTTING RELATION TO THE ENDS OF THE SKIRT SIDE MEMBERS, AND FILLING THE SPACE BETWEEN THE SIDE AND END SKIRT MEMBERS, A SLOT IN THE WALL PORTION OF EACH LEG WHICH HAS AN INTERFACE WITH THE ENDS OF THE SIDE SKIRT MEMBERS, AND SLOTS IN THE SAID CROSS MEMBERS DISPOSED IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE RESPECTIVE SLOTS IN THE LEGS, LOCKING RODS, CAM MEANS ENGAGING THE LOCKING RODS ADJACENT THEIR INNER ENDS, THE OUTER ENDS OF THE LOCKING RODS EXTENDING THROUGH THE SLOTS IN THE CROSS MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY AND SUBSTANTIALLY ALIGNED WITH THE SLOTS IN THE LEGS FOR ENTRY INTO THE LEGS THROUGH THE SLOTS IN THE LEGS WHEN THE LEGS ARE UNFOLDED, THE OUTER ENDS OF THE LOCKING RODS COMPRISING HEADS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AND HAVING CONTACT SURFACE PORTIONS ADAPTED TO RESPECTIVELY ENGAGE AND PRESS AGAINST THE INNER SURFACE OF THE PORTIONS OF THE LEGS HAVING AN INTERFACE WITH THE ENDS OF THE SIDE SKIRT MEMBERS WHEN THE LOCKING RODS ARE MOVED INTO LOCKING POSITION, AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE CAM MEANS TO MOVE THE LOCKING RODS INWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY FOR LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE LEGS RESPECTIVELY. 